Chapter 6

Yifa's POV

"You are to obey all my commands," he continued, his words laden with authority. "If anything goes awry, you shall face punishment." Punishment? Would he truly subject his own mate to such treatment? My father had never intentionally harmed my mother..

"Do you understand, rebel?" he inquired.

"Rebel, that's what he called me. He requested his partner to become his servant. What is this? Some sort of fetish? 

"I-I don't understand. Wh--" I started to ask, but he abruptly interrupted me.

"I'm not asking; I'm commanding you to do it. You don't have the option to say yes or no."

"I give orders, and you obey them," he added, his voice devoid of warmth and emotion.

I couldn't resist any longer; his scent permeated my senses. He stood right in front of me, dangerously close.

I looked up, and immediately regretted it, for his gaze pierced into me with intensity.

Challenging me to defy him.

His eyes narrowed as I met his gaze, but fortunately, he didn't demand that I avert my eyes.

"I don't have unlimited patience. Do you understand what I've said?"

I nodded once again. Perhaps, when we're alone, he'll treat me with more civility.Indeed, that might be the essence of it. His intention could be to shield me from prying eyes, just as in the stories from my childhood that my mother used to tell me. 

Those tales depicted kings facing numerous adversaries who would exploit the queen's vulnerability to weaken the king. They would seize the queen and employ her as leverage to coerce the king into complying with their demands.

Taking a deep breath, I attempted to rationalize his behavior. Perhaps that was the underlying reason behind his actions - ensuring my safety amidst the threat posed by his enemies. Nevertheless, deep down, I couldn't escape the thought that I was merely attempting to justify his conduct because I refused to believe that my partner was neglecting me.

"Very well. Black, I request that you accompany her to my chambers. I have made the necessary arrangements," Killian commanded, addressing Black. With one final glance in my direction, he departed from the scene.

Black acknowledged the order with a nod and then bowed before shifting his gaze towards me. I watched as he retreated, followed closely by two guards.

I found myself silently questioning, "Is this my bedroom? Or is it his room?" Lately, I had been asking myself that question quite frequently, reflecting the overwhelming confusion that enveloped me.

The butterflies in my stomach resurfaced, confirming my intuition that he was merely being cautious due to the prying eyes observing our every move. My inner omega echoed with anticipation, assuring me that we would reunite with our mate once more, this time in the privacy of his own bedroom.

"Follow me," Black beckoned, breaking the silence that hung in the air. I complied, trailing behind him in hushed footsteps, my mind still consumed by the whirlwind of recent events.

"Please forgive him for his rudeness," Black suddenly interjected, positioning himself in front of me. "It's not his true nature. He's just endured a great deal."

At first, I couldn't muster a response. I was at a loss for words, uncertain of how to react. While there might have been underlying reasons for his behavior, it didn't justify the way he had treated me. After all, I was his mate.

"Could you elaborate on that?" I inquired, curiosity seeping into my voice.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot disclose that information. It is not within my authority to reveal anything," I expressed apologetically. I nodded once more, comprehending the notion that royal families harbor numerous undisclosed secrets concealed from the public eye.

As I shifted my gaze towards Black, a profound sadness emanated from his countenance. Despite being a Knight, he exuded an aura of gentleness and kindness.

"Are you acquainted with him?" I inquired, eager to delve deeper into my companion's connection.

Black nodded affirmatively, responding, "Yes, we are actually good friends. We have been friends since childhood."

My eyes widened in surprise, for childhood friends often possess contrasting personalities. Black embodied shyness coupled with kindness, while Killian exuded an air of aloofness and detachment.

"Isn't it surprising?" Black remarked with a chuckle, acknowledging the shared reaction people tend to have upon discovering their friendship.

"I hope you don't take offense, but you're absolutely right," I replied with complete honesty. As I observed him, I couldn't help but notice how good he looked when he smiled. However, that smile quickly vanished as Black expressed his thoughts, saying, "But he's changed. He's changed a lot."

Lost in his own thoughts, Black appeared deep in contemplation. I chose to remain silent, hoping that he would open up further and share more of what was on his mind. Eventually, he continued, "But you know what? Despite everything he's been through, he's putting in tremendous effort to appear strong." There was a sense of pride in his voice as he spoke those words to me.

Black's expression carried a tinge of sadness, yet he seemed to harbor a certain admiration for his friend. It made me wonder about the trials and tribulations that Killian had endured. This was definitely not what I had expected when I first encountered my mate. Then again, I never anticipated that my mate would also be a king.

Life was brimming with surprises, but unfortunately, not all surprises lead to a happy ending. I was about to learn that lesson the hard way.